John Williams' "Olympic Fanfare" is playing on everyone's Spotify right now as the best Lake County Olympians head to Paris in late July. The Olympic games are packed with Prairie State dwellers. According to the Chicago Tribune, since 1896, Illinois residents have taken home nearly 240 Olympic gold, silver or bronze medals. The City of Lake Forest leads the pack for our fair county with 18 medal recipients historically.
Everyone is ready to see some dramatic stories in the Olympics. Whether your geeking for Simone Biles final run at the olympics, ready to view Sha'Carri Richardson get her shot at world's fastest woman, preparing for Katie Ledecky to add to her already extensive list of hardwares, curious if Noah Lyles will have the burners to take on Jamaica's Usain Bolt's world record or if your just there for the opening ceremony, the four-years come and go so fast and Lake County is got Olympic fever,
While you're in town on one of our Lake County Road Trips, there are plenty of venues, Lake County Libation Trail partners, restaurants and more showing the games. Continue scrolling to see where you can watch the Paris games. However, first let's take a look at Lake County's olympians as well as the rest of the Prairie land. Cheer on your fellow of Land of Lincolners as they go for the gold and grab a drink and/or grub at one of Lake County's venues to watch Team USA!
Hometown: Lake Villa, IL
Event: BMX
Fun Facts: This is the first year BMX is an event in the Olympics. Stancil graduated from Grayslake North in 2013. She started riding two-wheelers when she was just four years old. Post Lake County days, she attended Marian University in Indianapolis, and finished in second in the 2019 world cup series rankings for BMX. Stancil won her first world title in the Netherlands at just age nine. Since her Tokyo Olympics berth where she was just shy of medaling (Stancil finished in fourth place), she placed seventh at the 2021 UCI BMX Wolrd Championships, while the following year she defeated the field and achieved first place honors.
Hometown: Lake Villa, IL
Event: Swimming
Fun Fact: Keegan has been swimming competitively since she was seven years old. The Warren High School graduate is traveling to Paris for her second Paralympic games (first in Tokyo in 2020). In her first apperaence, Knott competed in the 400-meter Freestyle s9 where she placed 12th. Knott was born with a congenital condition where she has a shorter right femur femur and tibia than her left. The Northern Arizona State University student also has no fibula or right hip joint as well as a fused right ankle. In 2020, she was the youngest member of the U.S. Paralympic swim team. Since Tokyo berth, the 19 year old recently won gold in the women's 400-meter freestyle S9 Final during the Parapan American Games in Santiago Chile.
Hometown: Deerfield, IL
Event: Gymnastics
Juda is fresh off winning a team bronze medal at the 2023 World Artistics Gymnastics Championships. The Deerfield resident is an alum from Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire as well as a member of the University of Michigan team. In the NCAA Men's Gymnastic Championships, Juda secured a first place title after winning in the individual Floor Excercise, a second place finish on the Vault which both aided Michigan finish in second-place as a team. At the Olympic trials, Juda finished second on floor, third on pommel horse, fifth on high bar, sixth on rings and 13th on parallel bars. This is his first appearence on the Olympic stage.
Hometown: Grayslake, IL
Event: Soccer
Grayslake's own Korbin Albert is making waves in international soccer. The former Notre Dame star turned pro early, signing with Paris Saint-Germain in 2023. She quickly made her mark, scoring her first goal for the club later that year. Albert has also represented the U.S. on youth national teams, winning the Sud Ladies Cup in 2022 and competing in the U-20 World Cup. She made her senior national team debut in 2023. Lake County is undoubtedly proud of Korbin Albert's accomplishments, and her inspiring journey is one to watch as she continues to climb the ranks of international soccer.
John Jayne | Hometown: Chicago | Event: Judo
Jeff Jendryk | Hometown: Wheaton | Event: Volleyball
Grace Joyce | Hometown: Northfield | Event: Rowing
Anthony Davis | Hometown: Chicago | Event: Basketball
Casey Krueger | Hometown: Naperville | Event: Soccer
Jewell Loyd | Hometown: Lincolnwood | Event: Basketball
Ahalya Lettenberger | Hometown: Glen Ellyn | Event: Swimming
Eric Newby | Hometown: Nashville | Event: Wheelchair Rugby
Dana Rettke | Hometown: Riverside | Event: Volleyball
Kelsey Robinson- Cook | Hometown: Bartlett | Event: Volleyball
Anna Peplowski | Hometown: Germantown | Event: Swimming
Kenny Blades | Hometown: Broadview | Event: Wrestling
Maggie Shea | Hometown: Wilmette | Event: Sailing
Ryan Held | Hometown: Springfield | Event: Swimming
Evita Griskenas | Hometown: Orland Park | Event: Rhythmic Gymnastics
Joe Rau | Hometown: Chicago | Event: Wrestling
Sara Adam | Hometown: Naperville | Event: Wheelchair Rugby
Marco DeLaRosa | Hometown: Chicago | Event: Wheelchair Shooting
Chuck Melton | Hometown: Richview | Event: Wheelchair Rugby
Lauren Catain | Hometown: Winnetka | Event: Rowing
Ixhelt Gonzalez | Hometown: Chicago | Event: Wheelchair Basketball
Lauren Doyle | Hometown: Boody | Event: Rugby
Lauren Carlini | Hometown: Aurora | Event: Volleyball
Tori Franklin | Hometown: Downers Grove/Evanston/Chicago | Event: Triple Jump
Thomas Jaeschke | Hometown: Wheaton | Event: Volleyball
Zach Ziemek | Hometown: Itasca | Event: Decathlon
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Tamika Catchings Hometown: Lincolnshire | Event: Basketball | Olympics Competed in: Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 Four-time Gold Medalist
Matt Grevers Hometown: Lake Forest | Event: Swimming | Olympics Competed in: Beijing 2008, London 2012 Four-time Gold Medalist, two time silver medalist
Chris Thorpe Hometown: Waukegan | Event: Luge | Olympics Competed in: Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002 Silver Medalist and Bronze Medalist
Shawn Marion Hometown: Waukegan | Event: Basketball | Olympics Competed in: Athens 2004 Bronze Medalist
Charlie Houchin Hometown: Lake Forest | Event: Swimming | Olympics: London 2012 Gold Medalist
Michael Jordan Hometown when he played for the Chicago Bulls: Highland Park Event: Basketball | Olympics Competed in: Los Angeles 1984 and Barcelona 1992 Two-Time Gold Medalist
Scottie Pippen Hometown when he played for the Chicago Bulls:: Highland Park Event: Basketball | Olympics Competed In: : Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Two-time Gold Medalist
Conor Dwyer Practices in: Lake Forest | Event: Swimming | Olympics Competed In: London 2012 and Rio 2016 Two-time Gold Medalist and a Bronze Medalist
Mason Phelps Hometown: Lake Forest | Event: Golf | Olympics Compteted In: St. Louis 1904 Gold Medalist
Daniel Dennis Hometown: Fox Lake | Event: Wrestling | Olympics: Rio 2016,
Laura Zeng Hometown: Libertyville | Event: Rhythmic Individual Gymnastics | Olympics Competed In: Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Nefeli Papadakis Hometown: Gurnee | Event: Judo | Olympics Competed in: Tokyo 2020
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American Place Casino 4011 Fountain Square Pl., Waukegan
Beer Bazaar 107 Center St., Grayslake
Beer Garden at Independence Grove Forest Preserve 16400 W. Buckley Rd., Libertyville
Black Lung Brewing 2217 N. Illinois Route 83, Round Lake Beach
Black Lung Brewing 115 Nippersink Rd., Fox Lake
Bill’s Pub North 18945 W. Washington St., Third Lake
Casa Bonita Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar 633 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
Casa Ruiz 934 Illinois Route 83, Antioch
Chrissoula’s Restaurant 602 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
El Puerto Mexican Restaurant 200 N. Forest Ave., Fox Lake
Fatmans 36309 N. Illinois Route 41, Gurnee
Giordano’s Pizza Gurnee 7105 Grand Ave., Gurnee
Green Town Tavern 110 S. Genesee St., Waukegan
Green Town on the Rocks 175 N. Harbor Pl., Waukegan
Harbor Brewing Co. 136 Cedar Ave., Lake Villa
Harbor Brewing Co. Lakefront Biergarten at North Point Marina 701 North Point Dr., Winthrop Harbor
Jesse Oaks Food & Drink 18490 W. Old Gages Lake Rd., Gages Lake
JJ Twigs Pizza and Pub 1200 N. Old Rand Rd., Wauconda
Johnny's Snack Shop 1500 Main St., Antioch
Lakehouse Lake Villa 850 Tower Dr., Lake Villa
Launch Gurnee 880 Lakeside Dr., Gurnee
Lola's Tacos and Tequila 6170 Grand Ave., Entrance A of Gurnee Mills Mall, Gurnee
Main Street Social 608 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
Mickey Finn’s Brewery 345 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
Nightshade and Dark's Pandemonium Brewing Co. 216 W. Clayton St., Waukegan
O’Toole’s of Libertyville 412 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
O’Toole’s Lake Villa 10 W. Grand Ave., Lake Villa
The Parched Pug 1590 S. Milwaukee Ave., Suite 100, Libertyville
Primo Italian American Cuisine 720 Milwaukee Ave., Gurnee
Singh's Kitchen 620 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
Station 51 Truck Company Bar and Grill 883 Main St., Antioch
The Shanty Restaurant 38985 N. U.S. Highway 41, Wadsworth
Timothy O’Tooles’s Pub Gurnee 5572 Grand Ave., Gurnee
Top Shelf Ice Arena and Top Shelf Bar and Grill 6152 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee
The Vine Martini & Wine Bar 101 Center St., Grayslake
Wadsworth Inn 38905 N. U.S. Highway 41, Wadsworth
9th Hour Brewing Co. 136 Cedar Ave., Lake Villa
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Beelow's Steakhouse 763 S. Rand Rd., Lake Zurich
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano 20560 N. Rand Rd., Deer Park
Big Bowl Chinese and Thai 215 Parkway Dr., Lincolnshire
Bill’s Pizza & Pub 624 S. Lake St., Mundelein
Bluegrass Restaurant 2636 Old Deerfield Rd., Highland Park
Bosacki’s Brewery 610 E. Hawley St., Mundelein
Broken Earth Winery 219 Robert Parker Coffin Rd., Long Grove
Broken Tee Brewing Co. 406 Green Bay Rd., Highwood
Buffalo Creek Brewing Co. 360 Historical Ln., Long Grove
Chatter Box of Long Grove 330 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove
Chessie’s Restaurant 200 Applebee St., Barrington
Copper Fiddle Distillery 532 W. Route 22, Lake Zurich
Corked Wine Bar 132 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove
Disotto Italian Restaurant 310 Green Bay Rd., Highwood
Dover Strait Seafood House 89 E. U.S. Highway 45, Mundelein
Fat Rosie's Taco and Tequila Bar 940 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar 960 Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire
Gale Street Inn 935 N. Diamond Lake Rd., Mundelein
Half Day Brewing Co. 200 Village Green, Lincolnshire
Jameson's Charhouse 151 E. Townline Rd., Vernon Hills
Joanie's Pizzeria of Long Grove 235 Robert Parker Coffin Rd., Long Grove
Lindy's Landing Restaurant and Marina 115 Park St., Wauconda
Lou Malnati's Buffalo Grove 85 S. Buffalo Grove Rd., Buffalo Grove
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Lynfred Winery 1823 St. Johns Ave, Highland Park
North Point Kitchen + Bar 24238 N. Lakeside Dr., Lake Zurich
Ravinia Brewing Company 582 Roger Williams Ave., Highland Park
Rise Dispensaries 1325 Armour Blvd., Mundelein
Roaring Table Brewery 739 W. Illinois State Route 22, Lake Zurich
Slyce Coal Fired Pizza Co., Highwood 254 Green Bay Rd., Highwood
Slyce Coal Fired Pizza Co. Vernon Hills 913 Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills
Slyce Coal Fired Pizza Co. Wauconda 127 N. Main St., Wauconda
Tighthead Brewering Co. 161 N. Archer Ave., Mundelein
Tonality Brewing Co. 169 N. Seymour Ave., Mundelein
The Village Tavern 135 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove
WhirlyBall 285 Center Dr., Vernon Hills
Wildfire Steak, Chops and Seafood 235 Parkway Dr., Lincolnshire
Wild Onion Brewery 22221 N. Pepper Rd., Barrington
28 Mile Distilling Co. 454 Sheridan Rd., Highwood
For more things to do and where else to watch the Paris games, continue here. To learn about Olympics themed events, click here. To view more about Lake County Road Trips, continue here.
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